‘President needs to take step back and reflect on himself’ – Senator Methu tells Ruto following Isiolo heckling incident

‘President needs to take step back and reflect on himself’ – Senator Methu tells Ruto following Isiolo heckling incident

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Nyandarua County Senator John Methu has sharply criticized President William Ruto’s management model, following the current arrests of Isiolo residents who heckled the Head of State throughout his go to to the area.

Speaking on a neighborhood media station on February 11, 2025, Methu expressed concern over what he described as an alarming response to public dissent, significantly concerning the federal government’s livestock vaccination program.

“It is a sad state of affairs if the president visits your area and the next day you’re being rounded up because the president feels like he’s unhappy that he was not received as he had expected,” Methu mentioned, welcoming the court docket’s resolution to launch the arrested people with out prices.

The senator raised alarm over studies of arbitrary arrests, citing an incident wherein a resident recounted being detained whereas strolling to a store, accused of being a part of the heckling group.

In a powerful rebuke of the president’s current public statements, Methu termed the response a disproportionate response to public criticism.

“I believe the President is suffering from an inferiority complex. There is no other reason why anyone would round up innocent people because he feels he wasn’t received as he would have liked,” he mentioned.

Methu additionally took situation with the president’s selection of phrases throughout public addresses. He particularly referenced situations the place Ruto referred to critics as ‘Wajinga’ (silly) and dismissed recommendation from those that “don’t have PhDs.”

“It’s my opinion that President Ruto needs to take a step back, and he needs to reflect on himself as a symbol of national unity. Whatever words come out of his mouth, are they bringing unity to the republic? Are they giving him the respect that beholds the office of the president?” Methu questioned.

Ruto’s Isiolo incident

These remarks comply with an incident on February 7, 2025, when President Ruto was met with hostility throughout the groundbreaking ceremony for the County Aggregation and Industrial Park challenge in Isiolo.

Tension escalated as residents started chanting ‘Ruto must go’ after feedback made by Isiolo MP Bonaya Mumina Gollo.

In response to the hostile reception, President Ruto attributed the protests to drug traffickers retaliating in opposition to his administration’s narcotics crackdown within the area.

“I hear these drug dealers have brought youth to heckle us here. Listen carefully, young people – you cannot intimidate the Kenyan government,” he added.

Despite his efforts to keep up composure, Ruto’s makes an attempt to introduce his allies have been met with continued resistance as residents waved their fingers in dissatisfaction and continued with chants of ‘Uongo’ (lies).

Ultimately, the rising hostility compelled the president to finish his speech prematurely.

Apology

Following the heckling incident, Somali neighborhood elders formally apologised to President William Ruto in a media deal with on February 9, 2025.

Led by the chairperson of the Somali Council of Elders, Abdulkadir Shariff, they voiced their displeasure with the disrespect the Head of State obtained throughout his speech.

“Our main reason for coming out to speak today is as a result of what happened during the president’s visit while addressing residents at the Prisons land,” Shariff mentioned.

Shariff careworn that the incident didn’t characterize the values of the individuals of Isiolo or the Somali neighborhood.

“We are not happy about what happened especially we the Somalis and all the good people of Isiolo. There was no reason to heckle the Head of State,” he added.